Mysimba

Mysimba is a prescription weight-loss treatment. Each tablet contains two active ingredients; 8mg of naltrexone hydrochloride and 90mg of bupropion hydrochloride.

It is available for those over the age of 18 who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Alternatively, if you have a BMI of 27 to 30 and suffer from weight-related conditions, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, you can also be prescribed Mysimba.

Mysimba should be taken with a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise.

The active ingredients in Mysimba (bupropion and naltrexone) affect the part of your brain that controls your appetite and energy balance. Their combined effect reduces your appetite, food cravings and the pleasure associated with eating food.

It is still important to have a healthy diet and do regular physical activity whilst taking Mysimba to see the effects. Building healthy habits also sets you up for long-term success in managing your weight and staying healthy.

Mysimba tablets come in a prolonged-release form, meaning that the effects are released into the body gradually over several hours.

Clinical trials have been conducted to measure the effectiveness of Mysimba for weight loss compared to a placebo (an inactive drug). These trials measured the percentage of weight lost over 26 to 56 weeks of treatment.

Three studies showed that the average weight loss in patients taking Mysimba was around 3.7% to 5.7%, whereas those taking the placebo had an average weight loss of 1.3% to 1.9%.

In a separate study, the overall weight loss in patients taking Mysimba was 8.1% compared to only 4.9% with the placebo. In addition, 30% of the participants who took Mysimba in this study achieved a 10% weight loss.

Mysimba is relatively easy to take and it should be taken alongside a meal with plenty of water. The dose will be gradually increased over the course of four weeks:

• Week 1: take one tablet once a day in the morning
• Week 2: take two tablets every day, one in the morning and one in the evening
• Week 3: take three tablets every day, two in the morning and one in the evening
• Week 4 and onward: take four tablets every day, two in the morning and two in the evening

Your doctor may suggest that you stop taking Mysimba if you have not lost at least 5% of your initial body weight after 16 weeks of treatment.

If you forget to take a dose, skip it and continue as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed tablet.

The maximum recommended daily dose of Mysimba is two tablets taken twice a day. If you take too many tablets at once, you may be at risk of experiencing side effects.

Full instructions on how to take this medication will be detailed in the patient information leaflet that will be included with your order.

After 16 weeks of treatment, you should have your progress monitored by your doctor. If you have lost 5% or more of your initial body weight, the medication is working effectively and you can continue.

Like all prescription medications, there is a risk of experiencing side effects when you take Mysimba.

The most common side effects include:

You may also experience differences in your mood, such as irritability or even depression. This could potentially lead to more serious side effects including suicidal thoughts. If you experience any symptoms affecting your mental health, please seek immediate medical attention.

You must stop taking this medication and seek immediate medical attention if you experience any uncommon or rare side effects of Mysimba, including:

• difficulty breathing
• loss of consciousness
• seizures
• hallucinations
• severe upper abdominal pain
• an allergic reaction (including skin rash, chest pain, swelling of the mouth or lips)

For a full list of side effects, please consult the patient leaflet.

Certain medical conditions or medications can interact with this medicine and make it less effective or unsafe to take. You should not take Mysimba if you:

• are allergic to any of the ingredients in this product
• have uncontrolled high blood pressure
• have a history of seizures
• have a central nervous system tumour
• have a history of bipolar disorder
• have a history of eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia
• are undergoing alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal
• take other treatments containing bupropion or naltrexone
• have liver or kidney problems
• take opioids or methadone
• take or have taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) in the last 14 days
• have a history of psychological issues
• are pregnant or trying to conceive

Mysimba should also be used with caution in patients over 65 years old and is not recommended in patients over 75 years old.

Mysimba can make you feel dizzy, excessively sleepy, and experience loss of consciousness, or have seizures. If this happens, do not drive or operate machinery until these symptoms have completely gone away.

There are a range of medications that interact with Mysimba. You should tell your doctor about all the medications you take before you start this treatment.

Mysimba should not be taken with MAOIs (medicines to treat depression or Parkinson’s disease) or medicines containing opiates. These could be medicines to treat coughs and colds, opiate addiction, pain, or diarrhoea.

Your doctor will also more closely monitor you for any side effects if you take the following types of medications:

• antidepressants
• antipsychotics
• some steroids
• antimalarials
• anti-epileptics
• sedating antihistamines
• medicines to treat high blood pressure
• HIV medicines
• medicines for Parkinson’s disease

For a full list of medicines that may interact, please consult the patient leaflet.

Mysimba and alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol can increase the risk of experiencing seizures with this medication. If you drink heavily, consult your doctor before starting this treatment. You should gradually reduce how much you drink if you are taking Mysimba. Try to limit or avoid drinking alcohol during treatment with this medicine.

Unfortunately, Mysimba is not suitable for everyone. However, there are lifestyle changes you can make as well as other treatment options available that can help you lose weight.

Diet and exercise

The combination of a healthy diet and exercise is usually the first step in treating many common conditions. With the majority of weight loss medications, you still need to have a reduced-calorie diet and do regular physical activity for the medicine to work.

You should aim to have a balanced diet consisting of high-fibre grains, high-protein foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, and healthy oils and fats.

Exercise is also important, as you need to burn more calories than you intake to lose weight. The NHS recommends either 150 minutes of moderate activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous activity) per week. This could be things like brisk walking, cycling, or tennis.

Xenical

Xenical, often referred to by its generic name ‘Orlistat’, is an alternate medication for weight loss and comes in the form of 120mg capsules. It works by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs, breaking down nearly ⅓ of the fat you eat. The undigested fats that are not absorbed into your body are released into your stools.

However, it is still recommended that you maintain a healthy diet and exercise alongside taking Xenical. A lower dose of Orlistat (60mg) can be bought over the counter in the UK after an assessment by a pharmacist.

Saxenda

Saxenda is a weight-loss treatment that comes in the form of an injection. It belongs to the group of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists but specifically contains the active ingredient Liraglutide. It works by mimicking a hormone in your body called glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1). This helps to suppress your appetite and slows the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine, making you feel full for longer.

Wegovy

Wegovy is another weight loss injection that contains the active ingredient, Semaglutide. It is another type of GLP-1 receptor agonist and contains the same drug as Ozempic and belongs to the same family as Saxenda. Wegovy works by slowing the movement of food through the stomach and reduces your appetite. This means you consume fewer calories, leading to weight loss.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro is a newly approved weight loss medication. It contains the active ingredient, Tirzepatide which works on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. Similarly to Wegovy, it helps with weight loss by reducing your appetite, so you eat fewer calories.

Mounjaro may not be available to purchase in some countries yet, as it is still being rolled out. It should become available in due course.

Weight loss surgery

This is an option for those who have been struggling to lose weight with other methods. It is available to those who have a BMI of 35 or over. If you are interested in weight loss surgery, speak to your GP who can refer you to a surgeon.

Yes, you can buy Mysimba online. We require you to complete a consultation before you place your order. This is included in the overall price and is a way for our doctors to confirm the medication is safe for you to use.